Heat-sensitive alarm device



Oct. 5, 1965 M. ONUFFER 3,210,748

HEAT-SENSITIVE ALARM DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig/ 9 2 E l2 l2 P To ower Source A 20 .g. 6 Bandy) I I4 Is/ I l4 q? llfit b INVENTOR.

MICHAEL ONUFF'ER V o z' KW ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1965 M. ONUFFER 3,210,748

HEAT-SENSITIVE ALARM DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

Fig. 4 \la 2 26 f. Q- /27 L J INVENTOR. MICHA EL ONUFFER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,210,748 HEAT-SENSITIVE ALARM DEVICE Michael Onutfer, Chester, Pa. Sun Oil Co., P.0. Box 426, Marcus Hook, Pa.) Filed Nov. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 240,256 7 Claims. (Cl. 340227) This invention relates to a heat-sensitive device which operates to actuate an alarm when the device (as well as, of course, the ambient surrounding the same) reaches a predetermined temperature. The device is particularly useful as a home-type fire alarm, although it may also be used in alarm systems of other types, or it may be used as the temperature-sensitive detector in a temperaturecontrol system.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel alarm device which actuates an alarm when the device reaches a predetermined temperature.

Another object is to provide a novel heat-sensitive alarm device which can operate to give an alarm entirely independently of any outside power source.

A further object is to provide a novel heat-sensitive alarm device which is quite simple and inexpensive.

The objects of this invention are accomplished, briefly, in the following manner: A spherical ball is supported by a member having an aperture therein, through which aperture the ball is adapted to pass. Heat-responsive means, such as a bimetallic element, is arranged to produce relative movement between the ball and the aperture. The ball and the aperture are brought into vertical alignment at a predetermined temperature. When this takes place, the ball passes downwardly through the aperture,

and when it does so, an alarm is actuated. The construction is such that the predetermined temperature can be manually set or adjusted. Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described.

A detailed description of the invention follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an elevation or front view of a first embodiment of the invention, together with a circuit schematic; FIG. 2 is a side view of the FIG. 1 embodiment, shown partly in vertical section;

FIG. 3 is a top or plan view of a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially vertical support 1 serves as a fixed or stationary supporting means for the mechanical parts of this first embodiment of the device. Support 1 is for convenience illustrated in the form of a plate, although this support may have the form of a wall, column, stand, etc. A horizontally-extending shaft 2 (which projects outwardly from the front face of support or plate 1) is rotatably mounted in support 1,

in such a way that this shaft is carried by the support yet is free to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis.

An open-ended, hollow cylindrical member, denoted generally by numeral 3, is firmly secured to shaft 2, in

- at its rear or inner end fits around and slidably engages the periphery of disc 4. The portions 4 and 5 fit together sufficiently tightly so that they normally rotate together as a unit (forming member 3), yet by holding one portion (say 4), the other portion (say 5) may be manually rotated with respect thereto, to enable angular adjustment of portion 5 with respect to portion 4, for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. As its outer or for- 3,210,748 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 ward end, portion 5 has an integral lip 6 which extends radially inwardly a short distance from the inner surface of this wall portion.

One end of a rigid U-shaped bracket 7 is firmly secured (as by means of bolts or screws) to the front face of plate 1, and from this end the bracket 7 extends forwardly, thence radially inwardly to a point Within lip 6, then rearwardly (more or less parallel to an element of cylindrical wall 5) toward disc 4, terminating at its other end in front of this disc. One end of a spirally-wound bimetallic element 8 is rigidly secured (as by welding or soldering) to the last-mentioned end of bracket 7, so that said one end of element 8 is fixed in position (being secured to the rigid bracket 7 which is in turn firmly secured to support 1). The other end of the bimetallic element 8 is fastened to shaft 2, near the outer or forward end of this shaft. Element 8 is positioned a little distance in front of the outer face of disc 4.

It will be seen that the front or outer end of member 3 is open, so that element 8 is exposed to the ambient surrounding the device. As the temperature of the ambient (and of element 8) rises, element 8 expands to cause angular rotation of shaft 2 (which is free to rotate), to which one end of this element is secured, since the other end of element 8 is secured to the fixed bracket 7. As shaft 2 rotates in the above manner, member 3 will rotate as a unit therewith, since disc portion 4 is secured to this shaft. The direction of rotation of shaft 2 and member 3, as element 8 heats up, is counterclockwise in FIG. 1, looking at the front of the device.

It should be apparent that the higher the temperature to which element 8 is exposed, the greater Will be the angular extent of rotation of shaft 2 and of member 3, with respect to some initial position thereof corresponding to normal or room temperature. The member 3 may be calibrated, and corresponding radially-extending temperature indicia 9 applied to the outer or front face of disc 4, at the lower (arcuate) edge of this disc. The criterion or reference point of such indicia is a vertical plane passing through the center line or axis of shaft 2. That is to say, for example, when member 8 reaches a temperature of the member 3 will be moved (i.e., rotated) as a unit to a position such that the index line marked 100, of scale 9, will be vertical and will lie in a vertical plane passing through the center line of shaft 2 and through the center of disc 4.

A circular opening or aperture 10 is provided in the wall portion 5 of member 3. By relatively rotating the wall portion 5 with respect to the disc portion 4 (this relative rotation being effected manually, as previously described), the aperture 10 may be brought into alignment with any desired (predetermined) value on the temperature scale or indicia 9; this adjusts the device to operate at that predetermined temperature value. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the aperture 10 is aligned with the temperature index denoted 140. This means that, as member 3 rotates as a unit (due to the torque applied thereto by element 8 as the latter heats up), when element 8 reaches the predetermined temperature of the aperture 10 (and also, of course, the index line marked 140) will be in a position wherein its center line is vertical and lies in a vertical plane passing through the center of disc 4 and through the center line of shaft 2. After manual adjustment of the aperture 10 to alignment with some other (predetermined) value of temperature on scale 9, the aperture will be brought to this same vertical polsition when element 8 reaches such other temperature va ue.

An inertial body, in the body of a steel ball 11 /2 inch in diameter, is suported by wall portion 5, so it can be said that this ball rides on the inner cylindrical wall of member 3. The aperture 10 is so sized that ball 11 can pass through this aperture, when the aperture is located beneath the ball, i.e., when the aperture is located so that its center line is substantially vertical. Ball 11 remains substantially fixed in location (its location, of course, being at the lowest point of its support, which support is wall portion 5) as member 3 rotates therebeneath (as a result of an increased temperature effective on element 3). That is to say, ball 11 rolls along the inner surface of wall portion 5. It will be appreciated that the aforesaid substantially fixed location is one wherein the center of ball 11 is in a vertcial plane passing through the center of disc 4. When element 8 reaches the predetermined operating temperature for which the device has been adjusted, aperture 10 will reach a position wherein its center line is vertical, so that it will then be immediately beneath ball 11. Ball 11 then passes through aperture 10. Thus, at the predetermined operating temperature, ball 11 drops through aperture 10.

A hollow elongated tube 12 is mounted so that its upper end is just below member 3. The axis of tube 12 extends vertically, lying in a vertical plane passing through the center line of shaft 2. The upper end of tube 12 is somewhat funnel-shaped, as illustrated, and this tube has a diameter sufficient for ball 11 to freely pass downwardly therethrough (after such ball has passed through aperture 10). Tube 12 is detachably yet firmly mounted on plate 1 by means of a somewhat U-shaped spring clip 13 which is screwed to plate 1 and whose arms engage the outside of tube 12. By simply pulling the tube outwardly, away from plate 1, tube 12 may be released or disengaged from its supporting means.

The lower end of tube 12 opens into the upper end of a larger-diameter tube 14, which is coaxial with tube 12. A switch actuating element 15, pivotally mounted at 16, extends in its ready or unoperated position more or less horizontally into the interior of tube 14. By means of an elongated vertically-extending slot provided in the wall of tube 14, element is free to pivot, from the substantially horizontal position illustrated in solid lines, clockwise to the inclined position illustrated in dotted lines at 17. In its ready or horizontal position, element 15 is in the path offall of ball 11 through tube 14, so that when the ball falls down through tube 14, it operates element 15 to the dotted-line position 17. The tube 14 is sulficiently large that the ball 11 is not retained in this tube when element 15 is in its dotted-line or inclined position 17, so that the ball is then free to pass downwardly below the element 15. Even if element 15 fails to move to position 17 for some reason, the ball can pass downwardly below this switch element.

The movable contact 18 of a switch 19 is coupled to element 15, the arrangement here being such that contact 18 is pivoted clockwise, so as to engage the fixed contact 20 of switch 19, when element 15 moves from its substantially horizontal (unoperated) position to its dottedline position 17. When the normally open contacts 18 and 20 are closed (in response to the downward passage of ball 11 through tube 14, operating element 15), a circuit is completed through these contacts from a power source (such as a battery) to an alarm device 21, energiz ing this alarm. The power source may be a commercial power line rather than a battery, if desired.

The movable contact 22 of a switch 23 is also mechanically coupled to element 15, the arrangement here being such that contact 22 is moved downwardly, so as to engage the fixed contact 24 of switch 23, when element 15 moves from its substantially horizontal (unoperated) position to its dotted-line position 17. When the normally open contacts 22 and 24 are closed, a circuit is completed from the power source'to alarm 21 for energization of this alarm.

ilnstead of the moving-contact switches illustrated, switches of the so-called mercury type can be used. Switches of this latter type work more smoothly, mechanically;

At the lower end of tube 14, there is provided a springdriven alarm 25, illustrated as including a bell 26, a keywinding device 27 for winding up the alarm spring, and a trip lever 28 positioned at the lower end of tube 14, in a location such as to be engaged and operated by the ball 11 (after the latter has operated the element 15) upon its fall downwardly through tube 14. When trip lever 28 is pushed downwardly by the ball (assuming, of course, that the driving spring for the alarm has been wound up), the alarm 25 will be operated to sound bell 26.

A description of the mode of operation of FIGS. 1 and 2 will now be given. When the bimetallic element 8 reaches the predetermined (manually-adjustable) temperature (say aperture 10 has been brought to a position wherein its center line extends vertically. Ball 11 then passes through this aperture 10 and drops down through tube 12 and thence down through tube 14. The ball operates element 15 to the dotted-line position 17, which closes the contacts of switches 19 and 23 to energize alarm 21. When the switches 19 and 23 are closed, element 15 is in the dotted-line position, and the ball passes downward to the lower end of tube 14, releasing or tripping (by means of lever 28) the spring-driven alarm 25.

Since the alarm 25 is spring-driven, it operates entirely independently of any external source of power. Thus, even in case of a power failure, or even in case of dead batteries, an alarm is sounded by the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when element 8 reaches the predetermined temperature.

FIGS. 1 and 2, previously described, illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. Now refer to FIGS. 3 and 4, which illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. In FIGS. 3 and 4, elements the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numorals.

An elevated horizontal platform 29, of approximately square configuration in plan, is mounted above a base supporting plate 30 by means of four vertically-extending corner posts 31. Base plate 30 is adapted to rest on or be fastened to a horizontal supporting surface of some sort, e.g., a floor, a shelf, or a table.

A central circular aperture 32 extends through the entire thickness of platform 29, and a concentric counterbore 33 of larger diameter extends about halfway through this platform from the upper surface thereof, the junction between aperture 32 and counterbore 33 providing an upwardly-facing shoulder 34. Mounted within aperture 32 and counterbore 33, and resting on shoulder 34, is a temperature-responsive assembly denoted generally by numeral 35. The main body of assembly 35 comprises a cylinder-like disc 36 whose lower face rests on shoulder 34.

Mounted in the center of disc 36, so as to be freely notatable with respect thereto, is .a shaft 2 to whose outer (upper) end is secured, above the upper face of disc 36, a horizontally-extending nather narrow elongated arm 37. Arm 37 extends somewhat radially with respect to disc 36, but the length of this arm is greater than the radius of the disc, so that the radially outer end of the arm overlies a pontion of platform 29.

One end of a spirally-wound bimetallic element 8 is rigidly secured (as by welding or soldering) to the lower face of disc 36, and the other end of this element is fastened 'to the lower end of shaft 2. Element *8 is located below disc 36, within aperture 32.

It will be seen that element 8 is exposed to the ambient surrounding the device, since there is only an open framework between the lower face of platform 29 and the base plate '30. As the temperature of the ambient -(and of element *8) rises, element '8 expands to cause angular rotation of shaft 2 (and of arm '37 secured thereto), to which one end of this element is secured, since the other end of element 8 is secured to the (relatively large) disc -36. The direction of rotation of shaft 2 and arm 37, as element '8 heats up, is clockwise in FIG. 3, as indicated by the arrow 38. Thus, was element 8 heats up, the radially outer end of arm 37 describes an arcuate path above platform 29.

The higher the temperature to which element 8 is exposed, the greater will be the angular extent of rotation of shaft 2 and arm 37, with respect to some initial position thereof corresponding to normal" or room temperature. The [assembly '35 may be calibrated, and corresponding radially-extending temperature indicia 9 applied to the upper face of disc 36, at the radially outer edge of this disc. The criterion or reference point of such indicia is a radially-extending index mark 39 provided on the upper face of platform "29, immediately adjacent the edge of counterbore 33. Thus, for example, when member 8 reaches a temperature of 130 (assuming that the 130 mark of scale 9 has been previously aligned with index 39, as illustrated in FIG. 3), the arm 37 will be moved (i.e., rotated) to a position wherein this arm is aligned with the 130 mark of scale 9 and also with index 39.

The disc 36, which rests on shoulder 34 as aforesaid, is freely rotatable manually with respect to this shoulder and with respect to platform '29, such that this disc may be rotated to bring any desired temperature mark on scale 9 into alignment with index 39. This provides a manual adjustment, to adjust the device to operate at any desired, predetermined temperature value. When disc 36 is rotated for manual adjustment, the element 8, together with shaft '2 and arm 37, is rotated bodily along with disc 36, due to the attachment of one end of element 8 to this disc. This manually-effected rotation of arm 37 brings it to an initial angular position such that, when the set temperature is reached by element 8, this arm will have been rotated from its initial position to a position wherein it is aligned with index 39. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the set temperature is 130. This means that, as arm 37 is rotated in response to the heating up of element 8, when element 8 reaches the predetermined or set temperature of 130, the. arm 37 will be in a position wherein it is aligned with the index 39 and with the 130 mark on scale 9. After manual adjustment of the disc 36 to align some other (predetermined) temperature value (on scale 9) with index 39, the arm 37 will be brought to this same aligned position (i.e., aligned with index 39) when element 8 reaches such other temperature value.

At its radially outer end, arm 37 is widened, and this end of the arm has therein a circular aperture 40 whose diameter is slightly in excess of that of the ball 11. Ball 11 is positioned in this aperture, and rests on the upper face of platform '29 (see FIG. 4). When arm 37 rotates, it moves ball 11 along with it, the :ball rolling on the top of platform 29 under the urging and control of arm 37. If desired, a cover (not shown) could be provided for the top of the device, to keep dust (which could interfere with proper rolling of the ball) from accumulating on the top surface of platform 29.

An aperture 41, having a diameter such that ball 11 can freely pass therethrough, is provided through platform '29. The center line or axis of this aperture or bore, the index 39, and the center line of shaft 2 are all located in a common vertical plane (which is the plane 4-4 of FIG. 3). The distance between the center of bore 41 and the axis of shaft 2 is made equal to the distance between the center of aperture 40 and this same shaft axis, so that ball 11 can be rotated by arm 37 into a position such that it will drop through bore 41. This occurs when element 8 reaches the predetermined or set temperature, since arm 37 is then aligned with the center of bore 41, as well as with index 39, and since arm 37 moves ball 11 along with it.

A hollow elongated tube 12 is mounted coaxially with bore 41 near the lower end of this bore, the upper end of this tube engaging platform 29 to maintain the tube in position. As shown in FIG. 4, the inside diameter of tube 12 is equal to the diameter of bore 41. The common axis 6 of bore 41 and tube 12 extends substantially vertically in FIG. 4.

Adjacent the lower end of tube -12, and mounted on supporting plate 30, there is provided a spring-driven alarm \25, including a bell 26, a key-winding device -27, and a trip lever 28, Trip lever 28 is located at the lower end of tube '12, in a position such as to be engaged and operated by the ball 11 upon the latters fall downwardly through tube 12. When trip lever 28 is pushed downwardly by the ball, alarm 25 will be operated to sound bell '26.

A description of the mode of operation of FIGS. 3 and 4 will now be given. When the bimetallic element 8 reaches the predetermined (manually-adjustable) temperature (say 130), arm 37 has been rotated (moving ball 11 along with it) to a position wherein it is aligned with index 39 and bore 41. Ball 11 then drops downwardly through bore 41 and tube 12 to release or trip (by means of lever 28) the spring-driven alarm 25. Since this alarm is spring-driven, it operates entirely independently of any source of power.

Although not illustrated, a switch actuating element such as element 15 of FIG. 1 could be added to the tube 12 in FIG. 4, to be operated by the ball during its passage downwardly through the FIG. 4 tube. This would provide for operation of an electrical alarm, just as in FIG. 1. If such a switch actuating element were added to FIG. 4, the tube 12 would probably need to be of larger diameter than illustrated.

The heat-sensitive alarm device of this invention is particularly suitable for domestic use, i.e., use in homes or residences. The embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 should be hung rather high on a wall, while the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 should rest on a high shelf or other flat surface, both embodiments to be out of the reach of children.

It is rather important, for proper operation of the device, that it be mounted so that the upper face of platform 29 is actually horizontal, or so that the axis of member 3 is actually horizontal. Many residences do not have true walls, or level floors. Therefore, it is desirable that two spirit levels be secured to each device, one to be on the front of the base or support and one on the side of the base or support. By observation of these levels, the device can be positioned so that it is level front-to-back, and also side-to-side.

Level adjusting means may be provided, for initially levelling the device. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, if support 1 is arranged to be fastened to a wall, four screws or bolts could be secured to the rear or wall-side of this support, one at each of the four corners of this support plate. These screws or bolts, or any other elements that would serve the purpose, would partially protrudef rom the rear of support 1, annd rest against the wall. The two upper screws, bolts, etc., could be firmly secured to plate 1, but the two lower ones should be adjustable to level the device from front to back, or to level the device from side to side. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, if base plate 30 is adapted to rest on a horizontal support, four screws or bolts could be secured to the lower face of this plate, one at each of the four corners of the plate. These screws or bolts, or any other elements that would serve the purpose, would partially protrude from the bottom of plate 30, and rest on the horizontal supporting surface. Three of these four screws, bolts, etc., should be adjustable to level the device in all directions. In both embodiments of the invention, the spirit levels provided would of course be observed while the level adjusting means was being operated.

The invention claimed is:

1. A temperature-responsive alarm device comprising a supporting member having an aperture therein; a spherical ball supported by said member, said ball being adapted to pass through said aperture; temperature-responsive means exposed to the ambient for producing relative angular movement between said ball and said aperture in response to each and every variation of the ambient temperature, said ball and said aperture coming into vertical alignment at apreset temperature, so that said ball can pass downwardly through said aperture; said device being adjustable to set the angle between said ball and said aperture when the same are at the relative positions corresponding to normal ambient temperature, thereby to set said preset temperature; and means for actuating an alarm in response to the passage of said ball through said aperture.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said mem ber is mounted for movement, wherein said temperatureresponsive means causes movement of said member with its aperture, and wherein said ball remains substantially fixed in location assaid member moves therebeneath.

3. YA device as defined in. claim 1, wherein said member is stationary, and wherein said tempera-responsive means causes movement of said ball over the surface of said member.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjustment of said device to set said preset temperature is effected by angular movement of said member with its aperture.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjustment of said device to set said preset temperature is effected by angular movement of said ball.

6. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said member is mounted for movement, wherein said temperatureresponsive means causes movement of said member with its aperture, wherein said ball remains substantially fixed in location as said member moves therebeneath, and wherein the adjustment of said device to set said preset temperature is effected by angular movement of said member with its aperture.

7. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said member is stationary, wherein said temperature-responsive means causes movement of said ball over the surface of said member, and wherein the adjustment of said device to set said preset temperature is eifected by angular movement of said ball.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 713,050 11/02 Bernardin 340227 1,125,059 1/15 Carroll et al. 200138.1 1,173,072 2/16 Wilkinson 340-232 1,655,296 1/28 Tapio 283144.1 2,979,230 4/61 Calverley 273144 NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE ALARM DEVICE COMPRISING A SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN; A SPHERICAL BALL SUPPORTED BY SAID MEMBER, SAID BALL BEING ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH SAID APERTURE; TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE MEANS EXPOSED TO THE AMBIENT FOR PRODUCING RELATIVE ANGULAR MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID BALL AND SAID APERTURE IN RESPONSE TO EACVH AND EVERY VARIATION OF THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, SAID BALL AND SAID APERTURE COMING INTO VERTICAL ALIGNMENT AT A PRESET TEMPERATURE, SO THAT SAID BALL CAN PASS DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID APERTURE; SAID 